Friday, July 19, 2013

Do you know the best place for your dog or cat in your car? Read on to find out how to safely
travel in the car with your best pal.

Riding in cars with dogs
If your dog enjoys travel by car, the safest way for them to accompany you is secured in a crate
that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or
seatbelts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction
to the driver, but they haven't been reliably shown to protect dogs in the event of a crash.

Cars and cats
Because most cats are not as comfortable traveling in cars, for their own safety as well as yours,
it is best to keep them in a carrier. It is important to restrain these carriers in the car so that they
don't bounce around and cause possible harm to the animal inside. It is best to do this by taking a
seat belt and securing it around over the front of the carrier.

Leave the front seat for humans
It is also a good idea to travel with your pet in the back seat of the car (although, never in the bed
of a pickup truck!), because of the possibility of a front-seat passenger side airbag deploying in
an accident and possibly injuring your pet.

Inside, please!
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their
heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or become ill from having cold air
forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.

Rest stops
Stop frequently to allow your pet to exercise and eliminate. Never permit your pet to leave the
car without a collar, ID tag, and leash.

Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. On warm days, the temperature in your car can
rise to 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows opened slightly. Furthermore,
an animal left alone in a car is an invitation to pet thieves.